ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Construction on Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2025, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.
By the mid-2030s, once the vast terminal is fully operational, Singapore intends to expand its air connections to over 200 cities, up from nearly 150 today.
Speaking at a dinner commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Friday, Wong stressed the importance of sharpening Singapore’s competitive edge in the face of intensifying global competition in the aviation industry. He pointed out that numerous countries are heavily investing in airport infrastructure, with several unveiling plans for mega airports designed to accommodate more than 100 million passengers annually, gradually closing the gap with Singapore.
Wong also noted that airlines are rapidly growing their fleets and expanding routes, offering more direct flights. As a result, the need for flights to transit through Changi Airport could diminish.
“We cannot rest on our laurels,” he told the audience of 800 at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel, comprising industry leaders, former and current CAAS staff and senior government officials.
Wong said Singapore’s airports are already well-connected, with close to 150 city links today, but the aim is to grow this further. This will bring more passengers to the country and create demand for the broader aviation industry here.
T5 will be able to handle up to 50 million passengers a year on top of Changi Airport’s current capacity of 90 million. It will allow for greater connectivity, transform the passenger experience and create new jobs, he added.
He said the Singapore government is also working closely with international partners to further liberalise Singapore’s air services agreements, so that airlines can mount more flights between the city-state and other countries.
In 2024 alone, Singapore signed a new air services agreement, and upgraded existing ones with the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
